2027 Fischer Ranger 96

The 2027 Fischer Ranger 96 is a carryover model, bringing the same footprint, construction, and graphic into this next year. By blending a rockered profile and tapered shape with a partial metal laminate, the Ranger 96 checks a ton of boxes for a lot of skiers. From steeps and trees to bumps and powder, the Ranger 96 is incredibly well-rounded, natural, and intuitive. Skiers who don’t like thinking too much about what skis to bring on a given day will love the mindless confidence of the Ranger 96. When pushed aggressively, the Ranger 96 will answer the call, but that doesn’t mean it’s more accessible for progressing skiers.

We should all be well rehearsed in Ranger 96 construction by now. Built with a blend of poplar and beech in the wood core, the Ranger 96 has a wonderful mix of sturdiness and energy. The beech does a lot of the heavy lifting here when it comes to stability and smoothness, and you can feel that dense power running from tip to tail through the central chord of the ski. It’s sidelined by the poplar that keeps the ski floaty and maneuverable in adverse conditions and terrain. In the middle section of the ski, Fischer’s titanal laminate takes center stage. This .5 mm layer uses width-specific shaping and a flex cut notch in the middle to increase the flex while keeping dampness as a priority. The arms of the metal extend out towards the tips and tails to provide better edge grip on firm snow while leaving the ends of the ski floaty and fun with more flexible wood construction. The 180 cm length sits on the scale at 1950 grams per ski, so this is right in the sweet spot where we expect versatile all-mountain skis to land. Tester Finn Murphy states that he “Was a little concerned I chose too long a length at first, but once I got going, it was great! The Rangers were pretty easy to get on edge, and I fealt great while in the belly of my turns. The partial metal construction keeps the ski light, and I fealt like they were still pretty playful and easy to get in the air.”

If you’re looking for all-mountain versatility in a pure sense, the mid-90's is money when it comes to mixing it up out there on the hill. You can carve, float, bump, skid, jump, smear, and skid no matter what’s under your feet. This is a supremely well-rounded footprint for a variety of ski-based activities. In the 180, we get an 18-meter turn radius, but somehow it feels a bit shorter. The softer flexing shovels and tails give into that theory, as the initiation phase of the turn is very simple in this ski. Those tips are pretty spoony as well, so they do ease right into the turn. Tester Fiona Reed notes that “These were smooth like buttah and flowed really nicely from turn to turn. Not a very demanding ski, not a ton of energy return, overall not like super fun and playful, but happy to go with the flow and facilitate whatever it was that you wanted them to do. Very agreeable as opposed to aggressive.”

It’ll be interesting to see where Ranger 96 goes from here as it must be nearing the end of its run. There’s a big range of skier types here, as the Ranger is amenable to slower speeds with easier turning while the metal underfoot provides good stability and grip for firmer snow. Tester weight matters here, as lighter skiers seem to get along better with the Ranger 96 than heavier or more powerful ones. With endless versatility and a fun-loving shape, these skis work well for a wide variety of skiers.